Gila Monster Essay

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This is a project about the Gila monster. With the name of Gila monster, some people may think it is a mythical creature or a sea animal. That is not correct. The venomous Gila monster (pronounced HEE-luh) is the largest lizard native to the United States. It’s scientific name is Heloderma suspectum. The gila monster can be up to two feet (0.6 meters) and a maximum weight exceeding five pounds (2.3 kilograms They can be identified by their beautiful and color body which is black marked with pink, orange, and yellow spots. Usually their face is totally black. They are known as beaded lizards because they have small scales across their backs that look like tiny beads. Gila monsters are found in the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts of the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico. They take their name from Arizona’s Gila river basin, where they were first discovered. The Gila monster is one of the handful of venomous lizards in the world (others include the similar-looking Mexican beaded lizards as well as monitor lizard and Iguanas.) Their venom is mild. They release venom from groves in their teeth when they latch on the prey. Gilas latch on to their prey and inject venom to kill their prey into their open wound. It is interesting to know that no Gila monster has ever killed a human being. Gilas primarily feed on eggs and newborn animals.When people throw trash in the desert, the Gila monster might eat it. Gilas may spend more than 95% of their lives underground because they can go long without food. Gila monster can eat one third of its own weight during a single meal. It has very slow metabolism and it requires only 3 to 4 large meals per year. Gila monster has very thick and long tail that stores fat. They can be used as a source of energy when other food is not available. Gila monsters gather in larger groups during mating season (April to

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